Weather Events Update

CAUTION:

The constant rain is reeking havoc on Bristol roads. Please stay in if you can, do not try to cross flooded roads, and use caution on paved and unpaved roads. Many culverts are backing up during these rains, attempting to clear them without proper equipment can be extremely dangerous due to the water pressure built up behind them. 

Bristol Emergency Management, the Highway Department and the State are actively addressing road concerns, and are monitoring for new problems. Private businesses or homeowners effected by the rain event are encouraged to call 211. There are some volunteer and private resources that may be available to help make your road passable again or get mud/water out of a basement or building. 

Additional Weather Event Updates:  

As the rain continues, I want to share a little bit of information on how the disaster declaration process works and how it effects the municipality, businesses and homeowners.

In the aftermath of most significant and widespread weather events NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management sends out emails to Local Emergency Managers. In this email they are looking for an initial damage assessment. This is usually a short summary of what damages the Town incurred and the estimated cost of emergency response, mitigation costs during the event, and repair costs. These damage assessments are then used to put together a request for disaster declaration from the President. Many people have heard that this declaration revolves around the total financial impact. While this is largely accurate, there are other factors that are evaluated before a declaration is made. As can be imagined, this process can take many months before a declaration is approved or denied.

If a disaster declaration is approved then the funds approved are almost always “Public Assistance” funds, or funds to reimburse (usually up to 75%) other governments. The state, towns, and cities fall into this category. Once approved, FEMA starts to set up meetings with municipalities to determine if the municipality has met the individual threshold for reimbursement, and plan a course of action to complete all necessary documentation for funding. Again, once this is complete the reimbursement is generally 75%. So for every $100,000 the Town of Bristol spends in response to a declared disaster, $75,000 in Federal Funds are received by the Town. This process can also take several months, and depending on the repairs and extent of the disaster can take a year or more. To put it in perspective, I just attended the last meeting for the December Rain Event, and we might see Federal Funds in the next month or two.

Businesses and Homeowners

Public Assistance funds are limited to government entities, and so in most Disaster Declarations private property owners and damage sustained to private property is not eligible for disaster funding. This is a big reason why the National Flood Insurance Program exists. Most homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding, and it is very rare that Federal government funds “Individual Assistance.” In rare cases, think Super Storm Sandy or Hurricane Katrina, the federal government will declare an Individual Assistance Disaster. Visit https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance for more information in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Unfortunately if you have seen your basement fill with mud, or your driveway or private road wash out during this most recent rain event, it is highly unlikely that there will be federal funds available to assist you with those costs.

Benjamin LaRoche

Fire Chief/EMD

Bristol Fire Department